SENDING A MESSAGE: An Yakshagana artiste performing at an AIDS awareness rally in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: Paediatric Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) for those who are HIV positive has been launched in two centres in the State — at the ART centres in Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bangalore and at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubli.

Around 200 children infected by HIV have been identified to whom the therapy will be provided, according to government authorities.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok symbolically handed over anti-retroviral drugs to the Medical Superintendent of Bowring Hospital at a function to observe World AIDS Day here on Friday.

Speaking at the function organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare and the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society here, Mr. Ashok sounded a warning to doctors and health workers who discriminated against persons with HIV/AIDS and limited their chance of access to treatment.

"Ostracism of HIV positive persons and refusal to give them treatment will not be tolerated," the Minister warned.

Counsellors

The State Government was taking steps to appoint more counsellors and pharmacists at the Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCTCs) so that they could reach out to more persons with HIV/AIDS.

"We are holding discussions with officials concerned and working out strategies to bring down the prevalence rate in the population from 1.6 per cent to less than one per cent," he said.

He pointed out that people with HIV/AIDS could lead a normal life with proper treatment and diet and the disease should not be an obstacle for them to lead a productive life.

"The youth should be well informed and alert against the scourge of AIDS and should not involve themselves in unsafe sexual practices," Mr. Ashok said.

Actor Vishnuvardhan said people who were HIV positive did not need sympathy but support from the family and society.

Programme

Usha Ganesh, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Welfare, said "Bichu Mathu," an HIV/AIDS awareness programme, had been launched in schools and colleges by the Government.

Those who wanted to ask queries or seek counselling could also call the HIV/AIDS helpline, 1097, she pointed out.

As part of the programme, a Yakshagana performance on the theme of HIV was staged on the occasion.

Awareness

For Shanta, an HIV positive person for the last two years, life turned upside down when she discovered that she, her husband and her child were all HIV positive. Her child died last year.

Giving her testimony at the programme, "Now I am a counsellor and I want to live a productive life helping other positive persons. My family ostracised me because of my condition as they did not have much information about HIV. I have taken it upon myself to spread awareness about the disease," she said.

Basavaraju, Commissioner for Health and Family Welfare and Anil Kumar Jha, Project Director, KSAPS were present.

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